Reading machine



'April 26, 1938. G.l TAuscHEK H5563 I 'Y READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1952 e sheetsfsheet 1 F'IGJe ,.,cr Y

UNVENTOR April 26, 1938, G TAUSCHEK 2,115,563

READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 HG2. Y

INVENTOR mwa@ F IGA.

Aprvilzs, 1938. G TAUSCHEK l2,115,563

READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTQR G. TAuscHEK v READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1952 6 Sheets-SheetA lllllllllllli WHIINI .NOE

INVENTOR Api-i126, 193s.

5 mal/W April 26, 193s. TAUSCHEK 2,115,563

READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIC-5.13.

FIG.12.

INVENTOF?` April 26, 1938. G. TAUscHEK READING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MWVQQ Patented Anza-193s PATENT OFFICE 2,115,563 READING MACHINE Gustav Tauscliek, Weidling, near Vienna,

Austri Application July 27, 1932, Serial No. 624,984

6' Claims.

This invention relates to controllers and has for its principal object the provision oi a mechanismfor analyzing by raysl of radiant energy one or av plurality of characters, such as Arabic 4 5 numerals, alphabetical characters, or any arbivl individual identity the desired controlling effects may be initiated. n

To illustrate the application of the improved apparatus the characters to be read comprise Arabic numerals which are represented on arecu ord bya light modifying substance, although other forms of representations are contemplated.

The digit is compared by means Aof light rays with a series of digits provided on a lrn, for example. By having the -digit on the record 25 opaque, and on `the nlm translucent, when the correlation of like digits is provided, the identity is registered or recorded under the control of suitable light responsive'devices such as a photoelectric cell. The latter preferably causes the transmission of an electric impulse, and a series of such impulses are eiected dependent upon which one of the characters in the series effects the identity.

Where a plurality of digits comprise a number the digital value thereof is derived by the method of analysis just explained and by suitable selecting means the digits, or characters are represented on a plurality of correlated manifesting devices, for the purpose of indication, accumulation, printing, etc.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for reading by means of rays of radiant energy the characters on records.

It is a more specific object to effect such reading by employing light rays to compare a series of characters with the characters to be read.

It is further an object to ,compare each of a 50 plurality of characters with each different character of a series to thereby read complete words, numbers and the like. 4

It is a still further object to effect the reading by means of rays oi radiant energy in a successive manner.

(ci. zas-61.6)

Further objects, in connection with reading a plurality of characters is to determine the digital value of such characters, where the latter may take the form of Arabic numerals and thereby control differential effects upon accumulating elements, although such eiects may be employed to adjust printing elements even though the characters are numerals, letters of the alphabet, etc., or even punctuation, mathematical, or other marks or signs. 10

It is a further object to provide for the reading by rays of radiant energy by causing the image of one or more characters ,of a series to be compared directly with each of the characters on a member, such as a film. l5

It is specifically an object to devise an apparatus for comparing by the method described which permits the use of a single ray sensitive cell.

Further and other objects consist in the pro- 20 vision of establishing a suicient length of time for effecting absolute comparison of characters, novel Vstructural arrangements which tend to simplify the machine and in general to make the machine highly eiicient for the purposes for 25 which it is devised.

Other and subordinateobjects will be evident as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional View of the illustrative'30 machine embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

'Fig. 3 is a sectional View of one of the controlling cams taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. 35

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1, a portion of a shield .hav-

-ing been removed to more clearly show certain interior parts. A

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of one of the 40 film driving units.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a view in side elevation of the intermittent driving mechanism for feeding one of the 45 films.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of one of the electric switching mechanisms.

Fig. 9 is a partial sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8. 50

Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the cams and controlling contacts.

Fig. 11` is a plan view of a portion of one of the films employed in the light controlled reading devices. 56

Fig. 16 is a view in elevation of one of the relay magnets and associated contacts.

Fig. 17 is an illustration of a magnified typed character.

The motive power for driving the mechanical parts of the machine is derived from a motor I0 (Figs. 1 and 4) which through a pinion II is adapted to drive a gear I2 secured to a power shaft I3 which is journalled in a standard I4 secured to the machine base. To one end of shaft I3 there is secured a mutilated bevel gear I5 in 'mesh with a bevel pinion I6 secured to a vertical shaft I1.` The latter is journalled in a pair of brackets I8 and I9 (Fig. 2) and one end of shaft I1 carries a bevel pinion 20 in mesh with a similar bevel pinion 2|, the latter being secured to a shaft 22. By means of the shaft 22 three pairs of feeding rollers 23, 24 and 25 are driven. (Fig. 1.) To one end of the shaft of each lower feeding roller of a pair there is secured a pinion 26 (Fig. l) and by means of two intermeshing gears 21 a driving connection from the pinion 26 on shaft 22 is effected. As `best shown in Fig. 2, by way of example for the pair of feeding rollers 23, intermeshing pinions 23 are provided for simultaneously driving the feeding rollers of each pair in opposite directions.

From the shaft 22 there is a driving connection to a record feeding cam 29 (Fig. 1) and such connection comprises a gear 30 in mesh with the gear 23 secured to the drive shaft 22. Gear 30 is adapted to drive a gear 3l secured to the cam 29.

The records 32 to be analyzed are placed in a receptacle 33 with the numbers thereon face down and drop bygravity so that the rearmost edge of the bottom record coacts with one of a pair of shoulders 34 of cam 29. As the cam turns, the shoulder shifts a record out from the receptacle through a suitable slot to the first pair of feeding rollers 23 which then feed the record to the feeding rollers 24 during the first quarter of a machine cycle. 'When a record is between the pairs of rollers 24 and 25 the teeth of gear I5 pass out of cooperation with the teeth of bevel pinion I6, and as the feeding action of the rollersnow stops, the record to be analyzed will be held by pairs of rollers 24 and 25.

While the gear I5 continues to rotate without feeding the record the record analyzing operation will be effected. As the next cycle of machine operation is effected the previously analyzed record will be fed by rollers 25 to a storage receptacle 35 and during this machine operation a succeeeding record will be fed to the analyzing position.

To the power shaft I3 there is secured a Inutilated gear 36 (Fig. 2) having a sufficient number of teeth on its periphery to give a gear 31 a complete revolution during the last three quarters of a machine cycle. The gear 31 is carried by a standard 39 (Fig. 4) and meshes with apinion 39 rotatably carried by the standard 38 and attached to pinion 39 is a gear 40 meshing with a pinion 4I. 'Ihe gearing 31, 39, 40 and 4I is so proportioned that for each revolution of gear 31 thepinion 4| is given forty revolutions.

The gear 4I as best shown in Fig. 4, is attached to one end of a shaft 42 journalled in a standard 43 and the other end of shaft 42 has secured thereto a disk 44 carrying diametrically arranged pins 45 (see also Fig. 7). The pins 45 extend into the plane of a disk 46 secured to a shaft 41 and the disk has a series of 16 radial slots 48 in which the pins 45 alternately engage so that during each machine cycle the disk 46 and, therefore, shaft 41 is driven five revolutions.

Reverting now to the records containing the numbers to be accumulated it will be observed that in Fig. 15 one of such records 32 is illustrated, and is divided, for example, in three fields, I, II and'III, each in practice preferably of a width capable of receiving seven digits comprising a number involving a corresponding number of denominational orders, although numbers of only five orders are shown for illustrative purposes. 'I'he digits o'f the numbers are applied to the record preferably by a typewriter, or some suitable printing apparatus, so that uniformity in representation may be secured, for reasons that will be obvious later. 'I'he numbers represented by the three fields are read and entered in a corresponding number of accumulators by reading means now to be described. As stated, the records 32 (Fig. 1) havingthe numbers to be read are fed with the numerals facing downward or towards the base of the machine.

In Fig. 1 numeral 50 designates a source of light which is reflected by a 'refiector 5I so that beams of light are projected by a pair of suitable optical lenses 52 so that a narrow beam of light is pro,- jected by a slit of a disk 53. This beam of light is projected so that it falls upon three mirrors 53, 54 and 55 (see Figs. 1 and 2). As best shown for mirror 53', in Fig. 1, the mirrors are secured to pivot pins 56 which are journalled in a bracket plate 51 and a plate 59 and each pivot pin 56 has secured thereto a link 59 (see Figs. 1 and 2). The mirrors 53, 54 and 55 are fixed on their respective pivot pins 56 at different angles so that the light is reflected from the mirrors at different angles to the bottom face of the record 32 having the numbers thereon. In the normal position of the three mirrors, each of them reflects a beam of light having a width equal to the maximum width of a digit, in such a way as to illuminate, in the respective field I, II, or III, the area covered by the digit of the seventh order in that field. 'Ihis area is the one farthest to the left in each field, in Figs. 2 and 15. From this normal position, the three mirrors are swung gradually (clockwise in Fig. 2) until they reach the extreme position illustrated by Fig. 2, in which the beams of light reflected by said mirrors illuminate,.in each of the fields I, II, and III, the area covered by the digit of the first order in that field, that is, the area farthest to the right in each field, in Figs. 2 and l5. In the particular case illustrated, the three mirrors will, in the position illustrated by Fig. 2, illuminate the digit 8 in field I, the digit Il in field II, and the digit 3 in eld III respectively. It will be understood that the movements of the three mirrors are timed in such'a way that at each particular moment the mirrors will illuminate areas of like relative position or order in the respective fields of the record card 32. As the face of the card is white and therefore has good relliI Y `2,115,588 fleeting' properties. an image of 'the digit or digits appearing in any of the three illuminated areas oi' the record card (or rather an image of the white portion of said area which contains such digit) will bc gathered by a lens or lens system 59 wide enough to cover the three fields I, II, III. The optical image of the digit illuminated by the mirror'53 (the digit 8 in Fig. 2) will be transmitted directly downward to a point X, it being understood that each of the images is inverted by lens refraction in the lens system 69. The optical images of the digits illuminated by the mirrors 54 and 55 (the digits 0 and 3 respectively in Fig. 2) are transmitted downwardly, in twopaths to one side of path of the image of the first-mentioned digit (8), and will be caught by a mirror 8|, wide enough to cross said two paths, but clear of the path directed to the point X. The mirror 6i will re-invert or reverse,

by reection, the optical images of the digits illuminated by the mirrors 54, and previously inverted by the lens system 60. 'I'he optical image of the digit illuminated by the mirror 54 is directed by the mirror 6| through a lens 92, which again inverts the image by refraction, on to another m'irror 63, which again reverses the image by reflection and directs it, through a lens B2b effecting a further reversal by refraction, to the point Y. The optical image of the digit illuminated by the mirror 55 is directed by the mirror 6I through a' lens 62a, which again inverts such image by refraction, on to another mirror 54, which again reverses the image by reflection and directs it, through a lens 62e effecting a further reversal by refraction, to the point Z, It will be noted that the images are of the same character (inverted) at the three points X, Y, Z; this is due to the number of reversals between the record card 32 and the said points X, Y, Z being properly selected to obtain this effect. In the particularcase illustrated, the number of reversals is odd for each of the three images, there being a single reversal (in the lens system for the image reaching the point X, while there are five reversals for each of the images reaching the points Y and Z respectively, name- 1y, a first reversal in the lens system 60; a second reversal at the mirror 6|; a third reversal in the lens 62 or 62a respectively; a fourth reversal at the mirror 63 or 64 respectively; and a fifth reversal in the lens 62h or 62C respectively.

Referring now to Fig. 7 it will be recalled that shaft 42 is given forty revolutions for each machine cycle and pins 45 engaging the slots 48 of disk 46 successively constitute, as is well known, an intermittent drive movement forthe .shaft 41 which is driven five complete revolutions for each machine cycle. The motion imparted to the shaft 41 by a pin 45 is a variable lmotion the speed of whichis at a maximum when such pin is at the inner portion of the slot 48 and at a minimum (zero). at the moment when-one pin 45 is just leaving a slot 48 and the other pin 45 is just entering the next slot 48. At this moment the disk 46 and shaft 41 will be stationary, so that their motion or drive may be termed intermittent.-

As shown in Fig. 4, three reading units A, B, C are provided, which are of like construction, illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6 with respect to the unit A. To a bracket 65 secured to the vbase of the machine there is attached a square tube 66 which is closed at both ends and in which is fitted a photo-electric cell 61 resting upon a base 68 which has suitable apertures 69 for permitting electrical connections to the photo-electric cell.

`Mounted in the bracket of the unit A is one end of the shaft 4,1 which carries a sprocket wheel 19. The latter is provided on its periphery with a double set of film driving projections il which are equi-distantly spaced to receive similarly spaced holes 12 of a negative film 13. The

l111m 13 is an endless belt and a portion thereof passes over an elongated aperture 14 formed in the upper horizontal plate of the tube 55.

By means of pins 15 an apertured cover 15 -is hinged in the bracket 65 and fitting within the aperture of cover 15 is a guide member 11 having ears 19 (Fig.5) in which are threaded adjusting screws 19 which screw into end portions of the cover 19. From Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the lower horizontal surfaces of the vertical portions of member 11 rest against the top surface of the film 13 so that by adjusting the' screws 19 the film is forced to rest flat against the top surface of the horizontal plate of tube 96 although pro,l

vlding the necessary freedom of movement of film. 13 in its feeding movement. It will be observed that the aperture 14 of the tube is in registration with a similar aperture of cover 19 and guide member 11. The opening provided is sufficiently long to employ almost the entire effective portion of the photo-electric cell 51, the reason for the necessary length being obvious as the description proceeds. It will be noted that the direction in which the upper runs or active portions of the films 13 move to enter the path of the rays of light or other radiant energy, is transverse to the directionv in which the cards or records 32 move to enter the rays or beam of radiant energy.

Equi-distantly separated on the film belt 13 are a series of digits to be compared with the characters on the record 32, such film constituting a search plate. For illustrative purposes digits on a record are to be read and the film 13, which is a negative, is provided with all the digits. If letters on a record are to be read the characters on the film 13 will comprise a complete alphabet. Two of such digits 9 and 8 are shown in Fig. 11 and are demarcated by White lines enclosing an opaque surface similar to the body of the lm 13. As only the white lines are transparent .or translucent, that is, pervious to light, light will be transmitted so as to produce by light beams on a screen or other projection surface the outline of the digit, letter, or whichever character is to be read. The diameter of the sprocket drum 1D is of such dimension that a Vhalf revolution thereof, by a corresponding movement of shaft 41, shifts the film 13 an amount sufficient to bring a different digit to a particular reading line. There are seven such reading lines 6U as shown by dash dot lines B01-801 crossing the aperture 14 in Fig. 4 and sub-scripts hereafter designate,

denominational orders. If the digit 9, for example,l is to be successively compared with the digits |6903, composing the number in field I, during half a revolution of shaft 41 such digit is shifted successively to the seven reading lines 8U,-

and in general, a digit on the film 13 is successively positioned to all the seven reading lines 80 before the succeeding digit comes into view therein) on the record 32 as projected on the said film.

order.

the units order.v The normal angular position for '4 mirror 55, as well'as the other mirrors 53 an'd 54, which normally illuminate the areas for the digits of the seventh order, is maintained by the following construction. A cross member 8i is conf nected tothe lower end of each depending arm 59 and a pin 82 carried by cross member 8| is received by an open slot of an arm 83 which is loosely mounted on a stationary stud 84 said arm being secured to a sleeve 85 overlying said stud. Secured to sleeve B5 is an arm 86 which is urged by a spring 81 connected to the cross member so as to constantly engage the peripheryof a prole cam 88 which is secured to the shaft 41.

The arm 86 normally engages one of a pair of the high portions 89 ofthe cam 88, as shown in Fig. 3, positioning each mirror 53, 54, 55, so that it illuminates the digit in the seventh (millions) Upon an initial rotation of cam 88 in the arrow direction in Fig. 3 the arm 86 is urged so that the tip of the curved part of arm 86 drops from one of the high parts 89 to one of the low parts 90. During the quick swing of the mirrors 53, 54, 55 (clockwise in Fig. 2) produced by the sudden drop of the arm 86, the beams of light reflected by said mirrors will sweep rapidly over each of the fields I, II, III respectively, from left to right, that is to say, from the space assigned to digits of the highest order or denomination (millions, in the particular example illustrated), to the space assigned to digits of the lowest order or denomination (units, in the particular embodiment shown). In the field III, the digits shown in Fig. 15 will therefore be illuminated by the mirror 55 successively in the order i, 6, 9, U, 3, Y

during the quick sweep of this mirror which is produced by the drop of the arm 86. Immediately before said drop, when the arm 86 is in the initial or normal position indicated in Fig. 3, the light beams reected by the mirrors are directed to the seventh (millions) space of each of the fields and produce an optical image. of any digit found in such space, at the reading line 857 (Fig. 4). During the quick sweep of the mirrors, the light beams produce images of any digits found in the other spaces of the fields, at the lines 895, 805, 894, 803, 992 and 661 in quick succession, and this operation simply brings the parts into position for the examination of the lowest denomination (unit) digits in the position corresponding to the reading line 801. With respect to the field III, when the mirror 55 has been shifted in the manner just described the image of the digit 3 will be positioned at the line 801 in Fig. 4. The slight rotation of shaft 41 necessary to cause an optical image of the digit 3 at the reading line 801 also turns the lm drive wheel 10 a sufficient extent so that the first digit on the film 13 is brought to the reading line 801. This first digit is the digit 9". Hence at such line the optical image of Ythe digit 3 will be superimposed upon the digit 9". Since light reflected by the white space of the card surrounding the digit 3 is reflected to the translucent lines demarcating the digit 9, and since the digit .9 of the film 13 will not be completely covered by the digit 3 of the,v card 32, light will be transmitted to the photo-electric cell, but this light will not produce an effect indicating identity of the digit on the lm with the digit on the card, as will be obvious as the description progresses. It is also to be understood that the part 'of the lm between the digits therein provided prevents any light reflectedA by the White surface of the card being transmitted to thephoto-electric cell due to the opaque properties of the film 13.v

'As the cam 88 turns through a half-revolution during which its spiral portion gradually lifts the arm 86 from a low point of the cam to a high pointl thereof, it simultaneously shifts the mirrors 53,

54 and 55 to co-operative relation with the successive reading lines, so that after the mirror 55, for example, produces anv optical image of the digit 3 at the reading line 801, it is shifted by cain 88 to project the optical image of the digit 0 at the reading line 802, next the digit 9 at the reading line 803, and so on. When the light beam reflected by the mirror is shifted from one reading line to the other during the half-revolution that the end of the arm 86 rides on one of the circumferential portions of the cam 88, the digit on the film used for comparison is correspondingly shifted. Therefore, with respect to the digit 9" of the film, the latter Vis successively compared with the optical image of each digit composing a number. When the digit "9 of the film is at the reading line 803 it is superimposed by the optical image of the digit 9in the hundreds order of the eld III. As the type fonts of the digits of the records and film are alike and the optical system is arranged to project a record digit image of the same size as the film digit, the imposition of the digit to be read upon the digit to be compared therewith, causes, in general, a complete darkening of the photo-electric cell 61 with a significant effect now to bel described.'

After a half-revolution of the cam 88, the tip of arm 8B drops again to one of the low parts of the cam, and this causes the mirrors 53, 54, 55 to swing quickly back to the position in which they throv.' images at the reading lines 801; at the same time, the films 13 are advanced to bring the next digit of the i'llm into operative position for comparison with the successive digits on the card or record 32 as the mirrors swing about their pivots 56 in the opposite direction with a relatively slow motion during the time that the end of the arm 86 rides on the other circumferential portion of the cam 88.

Referring now to Fig. 14 it will be observed that for the light controlled reading units A, B and C there are provided electric control units D, E and F, respectively and only the control unit D for unit A is shown completely and will be described in detail in View of the general similarities with the others. With respect to unit D, there is pro vided a vacuum tube 9| connected electrically in the usual manner so that a constant potential is normally applied to a magnet 92 of a relay, said magnet being in series connection with the plate of the vacuum tube 9|. The contacts 93 of the relay are opened when this constant potential is applied, but when the potential is reduced, a spring 94 causes the closure of said contacts 93. The elements of the photo-electric cell 61 are in the grid circuit of the vacuum tube 9i so as to vary the plate current of the vacuum tube according to the well-known phenomenon of plate-current control by a grid. When the photo-electric cell is darkened, due to an identity in the digits 'compared the plate current or potential applied to the magnet 92 is reduced to cause closure of relay contacts 93.

Carried by the shaft 41 is a double switch arm 95 (Figs. 4, 8 and 9) carrying at each end a switch blade 96 one of which at a time is capable of having a continuous engagement with a concentric contact strip 91 for a certain angular movement of the shaft 41 and at the same time with one of a series of seven-contact points 98. For the iirst 180 movement of shaft 41 one switch blade 96 is effective, then for theremainlng 180. the other switch blade is effective. 'I'he contact strip 91 and contact points 98 are carried by a disk 99 of insulation and supported by a suitable standard and while the switch arm 95 is fixed to shaft 41 it is insulated therefrom by an insulating tube |0 I The contact'points 98 correspond in number to the seven orders and are so spaced apart that when one of the digits to be compared is at the first reading line 601, for example, one of the switch blades 96 connects the contact strip 91 with the related switch point 961. When the digit is at the reading line 802 contact point 98'2 is connected with the contact strip 91, and so on.

Recalling the statement made above, that contacts 93 were closed because the 9 digit of the record, in the third space or order of i'leld III, coincided with the 9 digit of the film, it will be observed that switch lelement 983 will at that1 time be electrically connected with contact strip 91 by one of the switch blades 96 and the following circuit connection, with reference to Fig. 14, will be established. From the positive side current is transmitted by a wire |02 through contacts 93 (now closed) and by a wire |03 to the contact strip 91, thenceby one of the switch blades 96 to the contact point 98a. point 98 a wire |04 leads to a related relay magnet |06 so that contact 983 by a Wire connection |04 effects the energization of a related relay magnet |053 since one side of all magnets |05 leads by a wire |06 to the negative side of the line.

When a magnet |05 is energized an armature |01 (Fig. 16) thereof is rocked about its pivot |08 so that the end opposite thev pivot engages an end of a contact blade causingclosure of a related pair of contacts ||0 and which remain closed until the termination of the machine cycle,

such closure being preserved by a holding circuit y maintained by contacts I0 and contacts ||4, the

contacts ||4 being normally closed by the spring action of their longer blade.

From the negative side of the line, the holding circuit leads by a wire |06 to magnet |053thence by wire ||2a to contact H03 and since the contacts, in the example assumed are now closed, the circuit leads by wire I3, common to corresponding blades of a series of contacts I0, to contacts ||4, now closed. The holding circuit then extends by wire ||5 to the positive side of the line, thus maintaining contacts H03 and |||3 closed until contacts 4 open after machine operations 'involving a single card are completed.

As the switch arm 95 continues its movement after contacting the contact point 981 and leaves the contact strip 91, one of the contact blades 96 switch arm 96 and the parts associated therewith constitute selector means for preparing successively the several controlling circuits which include the respective magnets |20. These circuits, although prepared by the engagement of From each contact the switch arm 96 with the respective contacts. are normally open owing to the gap atthe relay contacts 93. Only when this gap is closed by the action of the photoelectrlc cell 61, as described above, does the.- respective prepared controlling circuit become effective to energize its magnet |20. Inasmuch as the switchatm 96 is mounted on the same shaft 41 which controls the movement oi' the film or comparison member 13, the selector means is operated in synchronism with the movement of said lm or movable member 13.

The accumulator |23 is preferably of the type shown in Figs. 12 and 13 and comprises a series of eight accumulator wheels |24, although more or less may be provided depending upon the necessary capacity of the accumulator. Each accumulator wheel constitutes an indicator or indicating device. Assuming that the accumulator magnet |20 shown in Fig. 12- -is for the third order it vvlll-be clear that when an electrical impulse is directed thereto such magnet Will by its energization attract a pivoted armature lever |25 so as to initially rock a bell cranlr pawl |26 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 12) thereby causing the extremity of the horizontal arm of pawl |26 to engage one of the tooth spaces of a pinion |21 secured to the related accumulator wheel |24. The pawl |26 is pivoted at |28 to an arm |29 whichis also pivoted on the rod |30 which also forms the pivot of the lever |25. After the initial rocking of pawl |26 continued movement cf lever |25 by the magnet will cause pawl |26 and arm |29 to be shifted to the left to turn pinion |21 an amount equivalent to one tooth space. The mechanismabove described for turning an adding wheel is similar to the arrangement in the Tauschek U. S. Patent 1,781,349, dated November 11, 1930 and for this reason is only generally explained. After a. wheel is turned its operating mechanism is returned to normal leaving the wheel in its adjusted position.

It is important to understand that while a digit 9 has, in the example assumed, been 1ocated in the third order of a number, only one electrical impulse is transmitted during the part of the cycle involving the comparison of the 9 digit on the iilm with the digit of the record.

f However, it should be understood that during the next half revolution of shaft 41, when the record is being analyzed for the presence of any 8 digit, contacts ||6-| |1 are again closed, and by contacts |3 which are still closed, another electrical impulse is transmitted to the magnet |20 of the third order. If the wheel previously indicated I, after having been shifted from 0 to I it will now indicate 2, Thereafter, for each succeeding half revolution of shaft 41 involving the comparison of each of the remaining digits on the film such as 1, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and with a digit in each denominational order of the number, an electrical impulse will be transmitted to the magnet |20 of the third order to successively turn the related accumulator wheel |24 a sufficient extent to display 9 at the reading line when the record has been completely analyzed. Each of the' accumulator wheels |24 also con'- stitutes a denominational manifesting device 'indicating, by the extent of its movement in each particular case, the magnitude or identity of the character or digit read at that moment. It will be noted that in a complete cycle (ten halfrevolutions of the shaft 41, bringing the iilm 13 back to its original position) each of the film digits is compared successively with each of the vor. section of-'thefrecord 32.,Thus,lin the embodiment illustrated, wheregihe field has seven denominational orders orspaces, a film digit, for instance the digit 9, is compared successively with the `numbers` in each of the-seven spaces of the corresponding record field, before the next film digit. (8) is comparedwith the same num bers insaid record field. In, order that this result mayqbe accomplished, thespacing of two successivel-.digits on the film 13 ycorresponds to the width of Athe corresponding record field (such as I, II, or III).`

After the film has been positioned to succesl sively compare the 0 digit thereof with the optical image of the digits of the number |6903, the wheel 10 is given another half turn to thus bringthe 8" digit of the film into position and successively compare such digit with the optical image of each digit of the number |6903 but since the 0 does not appear in such number the contacts 93 remain open during such comparing operations, as is likewise true with respect to comparing operations involving the digit 1". However, when the digit 56 of the lm appears at the reading line 804, the optical image of the digit 6 of the fourth order is imposed upon the digit "6" of the film so that contacts 93 close to effect the closure of contacts III4 which cause the transmission of an impulse to the magnet |20 of the fourth order. Thereafter by a series of six impulses the related wheel |24 will advancesix steps. In the same manner the wheel of the fifth order is turned to display I. The wheels |24 normally exhibit zeros due to a previous resetting operation so that the accumulator Wheels will exhibit 000|6903. Correspondingly, other accumulators by reading units B and C add the numbers in the remaining card fields I and II.=r

It is pointed out that when contacts ||6| |1 are closed one or more impulses may be transp mitted to one or more magnets |20, respectively, depending upon how many contacts are in closed position. For example, when contacts I3 and contacts I I I 4 are closed during a closing of contacts ||6 and |I1, two impulses are transmitted, one to the magnet |203 and one to magnet |204, as will be understood.

Secured to the shaft 41 is a pinion |3| (Figs. 2 and 4) meshing with a gear |32 loosely mounted on a stud |33, the gear ratio between the pinion and gear being so selected that towards the end of the fifth revolution of shaft 41 a pin |34 on the gear |32 is arranged to contact the longer blade (Fig. 2) of contacts ||4 to open the same. Referring to Fig. 14 opening of such contacts will open the circuits to all the magnets |05 which have been previously energized and held energized due to the closing of their related circuit holding contacts H0. As magnets |05 are now deenergized their related contacts |I| and ||0 are restored to open positions. Contacts' ||4 are open while one of the switch blades 96 closes contacts ||6| I1 during the last half revolution of shaft 41. This prevents the transmission of an electrical impulse to the selected magnets |20 during this part of the cycle. During this last half-revolution of shaft 41, the film portion in the pathA of the rays is the one' corresponding to zero, and this film portion is preferably left blank (although it might bear the digit 0), since it is not intended to have any of the accumulator wheels |24 operated during such last half-revolution of theshaft 41.

Referring now to Fig. 14 it will be observed that contacts |35 are shunted across the circuit which includes magnet 92 and the usual B battery and to understand the purpose of such contacts it is explained that a digit of the film is preferably rapidly advanced to the reading line and then shifted past said reading line in a retarded motion. This is due to the construction shown in Fig. 7 where it will be observed that as the pin 45 is in engagement with a slot 48, as shown, a rotary movement of shaft 42 will turn the shaft 41 quickly followed by a decreasing acceleration, the movement being retarded as the slot 48 recedes from the center of shaft 42, the slot becoming closer to a'n arcuate path wlththe shaft ft2 as a center. Therefore, by suitably' normally positioning the digit of a film with respect to the reading lines the digit may be shifted rapidly towards and away from the reading line but in a retarded movement While over such line to greatly extend the time of comparison with the optical image of a digit which is also shifted by a simi# lar relatively slow movement.

A cam |36 (Fig. 10) which controls contacts |35 is securely xed so as to be movable with the supporting shaft 42 but insulated therefrom by an insulating tube |31. The cam is of double formation and has opposite concentric portions |38 which permit the opening of contacts |35 and are effective while the digit in the film is receiving a retarded or slowed down movement for greater efficiency in comparison operation. While the film is receiving an accelerated movement either one or the other of the cam portions |39 is effective to cause closure of contacts |35 thus causing a high voltage from the B battery to energize magnet 92 thus insuring of opening of contacts 93 if they were previously closed. Contacts |35 are, therefore, opened each time when the digits are to be comparedA and closed each time when the digits are shifted from one reading line to the other. 'Ihe above arrangement insures more successful comparisons by insuring opening of contacts 83 before a comparing operation and thereby increases the accuracy and speed of the machine.

It has been previously stated that there are provided three light controlled digit reading units A, B and C, respectively, associated wlth card fields I, II,'and III.

They are constructed alike` and to provide suitable driving connections from the shaft 41 to the film drive for reading unit B there is secured to shaft 41 a gear |40 (Fig. fl) adapted, through an idler pinion |4|, to drive a gear I42 `which effects the same operation as described for reading unit A. By means of an idler pinion |43 a gear |44 of the reading unit C is driven.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the cam |36 is sufficiently broad to operate three sets of contacts |35, one for each electric control unit D, E and F (Fig. 14)

There is only one set of contacts |I4 provided for the three electrical control units as the single set of contacts may control the deenergization of all the magnets |05 of each of the three units so that the three accumulators may individually totalize numbers represented upon the associated controlling fields of the record.

It is well known that it is necessary that when a particular accumulator wheel passes through zero, the wheel of the next order ber turnedan extra step to effect the necessary transfers.'

Any suitable mechanism may be provided to carry out the above and in the preferred emdistantly spaced transfer projections |45, there being three since the figures on the wheel 24 constitute three sets.A When a wheel passes from 9" to 0 one of the transfer projections engages tlie diagonal'edge |46 of a slide member |41 which, by a cam edge of a lug extension |40 of member |41 is adapted to close transfer contacts |49. The purpose of such contacts is more evident from the wiring diagram where it will be observed that from a line wire |50 a circuit is closed through one of such closed transfer contacts |49 to the accumulator magnet |20 of the next'higher order by means of a related wire connection |5|. While one or more contacts |49 may be closed during an accumulating operation, transfers are not effected until the completion of the accumulating operations and are controlled by contacts |52 which are connected to control all three accumulators. Such contacts are also shown in Fig. 2 wherein it will be observed that whenv pin |34 engages the center blade to open contact ||4 it closes contacts |52. In so doing a connection is effected from the positivev side of the line by wire ||5 (Fig. 14),

through closed contacts |52, wire |53, Jumper connection |54 to one side of each of the contacts |49 lby wire |50. A circuit thus leads to the higher order magnet |20 dependent upon-the previous closing of contacts |49 by a wheel of lower order. The circuit to the negative line side is completed by wire |2|, jumper |22 and wire |06.

When an accumulator magnet is energized it` causes operation of its related pawl |26 to turn the higher order wheel one step.v If such a wheel stood at nine and received a transfer from the lower order wheelvthat wheel will pass through zero and in so doing will close its related contacts |49 to effect a transfer to the wheel of next higher order. Such transfer operations are known astransfers by transfers, and the present arrangement takes care of such requirements.

When contacts |52 close an impulse is also directed to a magnet |56 (Figs. 12 and 14) which is provided to restore the shifted slides 41 to nor- 1 mal by mechanism generally described herein as it is shown in more complete detail in the British patent 372,742. i

Slidably mounted by pins |51 engaging slots |56 are a pair of slides |59 to which is pivotally connected a crossbar |60 which is urged by a spring. |6I. When magnet |56 is energized an armature strcture |62 is effective to pull down both slides |59 since the armature is carried and xedly held between said slides. Bar |60 will now be lowered without affecting the position of any slide |41 which may be in the shifted or lower position, bringing however, the inclined edge |63 of the bar |60 directly against the edge |64 of any shifted slide.

When magnet |56 is deenergized by opening of contacts |52 a suitable spring may elevate bar |60 and by the contact of the edges |63 and |64 a thrust will be effected in the direction of movement of a slide |41 thereby restoring the same to its normal position and permitting the opening of the related transfer contacts |49.

Each accumulator is provided with an arrangement more fully disclosed in the British patva shaft |69, the latter is rocked. The shaft |69 is supported by a pair of arms |10 lwhich are the pin |61-turns the arm |69 and thus shaft |69. A series of hooks |1I are carried by shaft |69, one'for each wheel |24, so that rocking of shaft |69 will rock hooks |1| to such an extent that they will catch under-the transfer projections.

|45, in their various positions of displacement and turn the wheels lclockwise during the further ,.-pivoted on the same shaft as the lever |66. Thus l *if the lever |66 is turned in the arrow direction movement of lever |66` until the accumulator wheels are in their zero position, at which timesthey are impositively held in such position by pawls |12 engaging ratchet wheels |13 attached to each accumulator wheel |24. After this the lever |66 is again returned to normal.

- It will be recalled that the digits are preferably demarcated on film 13 (Fig. 11) by opaque portions surrounded by translucent lines. The reason for such will now be explained.

By practice, it has been found that when characters are typed on a record by the usual inking ribbons on typewriters the bodies of such characters, if magnified, will be found to be nonuniform in their properties as regards modifying light, since the bodies of such characters consist of outlines considerably darker than the interior portions, substantially complementary to the digits shown in Fig. 11. This is probably due to the sharp typeedges shifting the moist ink of the ribbon. Since the central portions are light and the edges contrastingly dark (see Fig. 17) the digits on the film 13 must be complementary to secure absolute comparison.

The above is 4not an indispensable featuresince if the characters on a record are uniform inthe lines representing such characters, the characters on the film would be, in the system disclosed, all translucent or transparent and the surrounding area opaque.

While the embodiments illustrated employ light controlled means it is further contemplated to arrive at thesame result by employing other rays of radiant energy; such as heat, ultra-violet, X- rays, and other rays of electro-magnetic character, etc., for the controlling medium and the term light is not to be construed as restrictive.4 l

. they are to substitute for the photoelectric cell Wlen employing radiant energy of other charac er.

'What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a reading machine for a record bearing ordered characters thereon, a member bearing comparing character thereon, means for comparing each of said ordered characters with a comparing character and then with successive com-- paring characters, means responsive to the comparison of like characters, and means controlled thereby to indicate compared like characters in the order in which they appear on said record.

2. In an indicating machine havinga record which bears, characters thereon and means for producing a beam of light; a comparing means comprisingmeans for directing said beam of light against said record to illuminate said record and characters, and a reading unit having a movable comparing member, said unit being responsive to the reiiected illumination of said record, a plurality of indicating devices, means to move said comparing member, means to move said directing means to cause said beam to traverse said record characters in synchronism with said i'lrst-named moving means, and means controlled by said comparing means to operate said indicating devices in synchronism with both of said moving means.

3. In a machine for reading a record having a plurality of aligned characters together constituting a single representation, a reading unit comprising a radiant energy responsive means and a character bearing search member for successively comparing each record character with each character on the search member, a plurality of indicating devices, one for each character position on the record, and operating means therefor, and means controlled by the reading unit upon determining the identity of each record character with a character on the search member for causing the operating means to set' up the recordl characters on the correspondingly positioned indicating devices.

4. In a machine of the class described, controlled by a record having a plurality of characters thereon, an endless flexible search member bearing a set of all the different characters that may appear on such record, means whereby a portion of vsaid search member will be held substantially at, means for projecting by radiant energy upon said at portion of the search member. an image of the several characters appearing on said record, means for moving said Search member lengthwise to bring each of the characters thereon successively into cooperative relation to the image of a character on the record, and means sensitive to said radiant energy adjacent said search member for determining when correspondence exists ybetween a character on the search.

comprisingr means for comparing each of said ordered characters with a comparing character in said reading device and movable to different positions with respect to the position of said ordered characters and means responsive to the comparison of like characters, a holding circuit for each indicating device, means vfor preparing each helding circuitv in synchronism with the comparison of the corresponding ordered character, and means controlled by said responsive means for completing the prepared holding circuit upon the comparison of like characters.

6. In a reading machine for a record bearing ordered characters thereon, a member bearing comparing characters thereon, means for comparing each of said ordered characters with a comparing character and then with successive' comparing characters, means responsive to the comparison of like characters, an indicating device for each ordered character, circuit controlling means controlled by said responsive means, and means operable in synchronism with the comparison ofl said characters for placing said indicating devices under control of said circuit controlling means.

GUSTAV TAUSCHEK. 

